Tough decisions in tough times - Why I quit my job in the middle of a recession

Hi all,

Its been a while since I last wrote anything. I usually need something to inspire me to write and inspiration is something I have been lacking for a long time. Inspiration usually comes to me through life, music, the books or articles I read or people I meet. At some point last year, I stopped engaging with life. I stopped reading, I stopped listening to music and my creative mind just shut down.

The reason? I was depressed. Life had become a drag because I hated my job. I worked to live and the job started to take my life away. Each day was a chore; it was draining - mentally, physically and spiritually. It is amazing how much damage doing something you don't enjoy for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week can do. I had been in the same role for years, which in itself is not bad, but it had never been what I wanted to do. With no incentives like promotions or money, the days became longer and unbearable. Outside work, I didn't have anything else to focus on so my job had become the center of my world. My job defined me. How I felt at work was how I felt about life in general.

It reached breaking point at the end of last year. I had reached a new low and I decided I could either fall further and further into the rabbit hole (and risk a nervous breakdown), or break free and find something else to live for. It was scary and I had many sleepless nights thinking about it. When your identity is tied into what you do, it is hard and scary to divorce the two. I had so many questions, doubts, fears. Am I mad to be thinking of doing this in the middle of the worst recession in 20 years?? What would I do?? How would I survive? In such a depressed job market, how long would it take me to find a job, let alone a job in the career path I want? What if nobody wants me? What if I am not good enough?

Didn't I Blow Your Mind....

Before I begin, let me just send out my best wishes and love to Aretha Franklin who is in recovery today after going in for surgery in Detroit yesterday. We all pray she will make a full recovery soon.

Following on from my last blog, I have found so many more gems from the Queen. Her albums from the 1970s have some of the best tracks I have ever heard from this era. Until recently, I had only ever heard the good old classics like "Respect", "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Natural Woman" and some of her more popular gospel tracks. Thanks to the Internet and a free afternoon a few months ago, I have discovered some of the most spectacular soul music I have ever heard...and for me, the real power of Aretha Franklin!! These tracks stir something deep within me that is magical...

My quest for more Aretha brought me to her 1971 album "Young, Gifted and Black" (love that title, by the way!). And this is another belting masterpiece!! Some even say it is her best album.

This album demonstrates the full power of Aretha's vocal range and has those unmistakable gospel tones that "move your soul". Highlights for me from this album have to be "Rock Steady", "Young, Gifted Black" and "Border Song (Holy Moses)".

What really I surprised me on this album was a song that I used adore when I was younger...only I didn't realize it was originally done by Aretha. Which song you might ask? Well, the title of my blog should give it away!

"Didn't I (Blow your Mind This Time)" was one of my favorite songs by the one and only New Kids On The Block (NKOTB).  Today found a version of this song by Aretha from this 1971 album that blows the NKOTB version out of the water (though Joey's voice on this cover is so cute!). Aretha's version is so powerful and is charged with so much passion and soul that NKOTB could never have achieved. This is now my favorite song on this album by a long shot :)

"Didn't I do it, baby?!"

Enough said!

Ode to Aretha Franklin - Rare and Unreleased Queen of Soul

One of my all time favorite artists is Aretha Franklin. She truly is the Queen of Soul. Recently, I came across an album of hers titled Rare & Unreleased Recordings From the Gold Reign of the Queen of Soul. This album was released in 2007 and it BLEW me away! It is Aretha at her best! It is a collection of unreleased tracks and some outtakes from some of her well known songs.

On this album you will find some classic remakes - my favourite has to be "My Cup Runneth Over" which was originally done by Ed Ames (Aretha recreated a rather dull song into something phenomenal) along with other classics we know like "At Last" originally done by the legend Etta James and "My Way" by the crooner Frank Sinatra. This album has been my find of the week. "Heavenly Father"....I have no words to describe this song....the voice, the words, the memories.....

So, if you want to add something classic and very special to your music collection, get this album for yourself. Switch off the lights, turn up the volume and feel the magic that only the Queen can deliver. This is what soul music is all about. Pure and from the heart.

The video below is another one of my Aretha faves...enjoy!!